MEMORIAL DAY BLESSINGS

As I join our nation in pausing to remember the sacrifice of our soldiers who gave and lost their lives in defending and protecting the many freedoms we enjoy in America, I am especially grateful to God for allowing my son (Air Force) to return home from two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. Today he is in Germany celebrating Memorial Day with his family.

I am also grateful that God kept my nephew (Navy) safe and allowed him to return home to his family.

Thank You Lord, Amen

THIRSTY?

Friday, March 6, 2009
I thought about Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well today when a co-worker walked into my work area looking for something to drink. "I’m looking for a drink that will quench my soul" he said to me. "There is no drink in the world that can ever quench your soul" I replied.
Unlike the woman at the well, who was thirsty for the Messiah, my co-worker was thirsty for something else and it wasn’t Jesus.

My biggest fear in being assigned to work in the Food Pantry Warehouse was that I might run into former clients and their family. Would my being unemployed and a recipient of General Assistance (being in the same boat they’re in) ruin my testimony of faith in Christ, before them?

On my first day I saw a former client’s sister who in the past, was very resistant to the gospel. To my relief she didn’t recognize me. But in route home at the end of the work day I felt convicted. So on my next scheduled work date I revealed myself to her. And to my surprise, she didn’t mock me; she was awed that despite my circumstance, my faith in Christ was still intact with a continued demonstration of care for her and her family.

Although she hasn’t made a commitment to Christ yet---who can say she won’t? Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why God has engineered my placement there that she and others are given opportunity to receive the gospel and be saved.

TRUTH

"What is truth?" asked Pilate of Jesus. Illinoisans are probably asking the same question in light of Sen. Roland Burris’ ever changing story surrounding his appointment to the senate by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The world’s version of truth is based on whatever it chooses to be true, in order to achieve a desired goal or purpose. Even religious folks have its form of truth; it’s rooted in self-righteousness and pride. The practice of these types of truths enslaves us to our sin nature because it is based on the cravings of the flesh.

Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you will know the truth and the truth shall make you free."(John 8:31, 32)

The truth Jesus spoke of comes from Him and it is realized only in those who have saturated their heart and mind with the Word of God. The truth is no matter how high we’ve climbed the ladder of success; no matter what office or title we hold in the world or in the church----we are not exempt from sin and its entrapment. We are swayed to overlook our sin to protect our reputation or to gain power and position over others, and we’re all subject to being duped, and misled by Satan through close friends, associates and family.

The only person who is free from sin is Jesus, and we experience His freedom from our sin when we acknowledge it, repent, and align our will with His.

Most Gracious and Heavenly Father,
Create in me a fervent desire for Your Word to burn brightly in my heart and mind.
Continue to expose sin areas in my life, so I may experience freedom from my sin through repentance and forgiveness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

GLORY in Poverty

If my revisiting poverty results in one soul coming to Jesus, it is more than worth the trip.

As an eligibility requirement to receive General Assistance, I have to give one day a week working in the Township’s Food Pantry Warehouse packing food boxes for needy families. Today during lunch a young man asked me what I was reading. I told him, I was reading my Bible. Ten minutes later he came and sat near me and asked, "What are you reading now?

"The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis"

"What’s it about?"

After explaining to him what the book was about, he opened his heart to hear the gospel and conversation began centered around a personal relationship with Christ.

To GOD is the GLORY!

The Lifter Up of My Head

I heard a song on the Worship Net channel by Jocelyn Brown that has refreshed my soul these past few weeks. The artist combined an old hymn (Leaning on the Everlasting Arms) with the song, "Praise the Mighty Name of Jesus."

The chorus of the song says –

Praise the mighty name of Jesus,
Praise the Lord the lifter up of my head –
Praise the Rock of my Salvation,
All my days are in His faithful hands.

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the Everlasting Arms –
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

I’ve been unemployed for 14 months. My unemployment benefits ran out in December. My life from a human viewpoint looks quite bleak. But from the standpoint of the scriptures presented in the song, I, even now; dwell in a place of blessedness. How? My life is in the Faithful Hands of Jesus. Because I trust Him to care for, and protect me I can lift my head above my troubles and worship Him. By His love for me He has touched the heart of people around me to share their substance with me. The Lord has given me favor with my landlord, allowing me to keep my apartment for less than what he’s due. He has even sent people to encourage me and stand in prayer with me. And most important-----just as He had taught me the blessedness in graciously giving to others; He has now taught me how to graciously receive from others as receiving from Him.

A POST ELECTION THOUGHT

"For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south, But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another." – Psalm 75:6, 7 (NKJ)

When one commits his/her life to walking on the water with Jesus, all of life’s decisions are based on an understanding and belief in the Word of God.

At age 53 this was the most intense presidential election I’ve participated in. I spent more time researching each candidate and their views than I did in previous elections. I also spent a great deal of time praying, asking God to show me what to look for-----including which candidate would be more receptive to His influence.

In light of the scriptures, this is what I observed of both candidates.

1 John 4:15 - "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."
When Both Senators spoke with Rick Warren, Sen. Obama confessed faith in Jesus, Sen. McCain did not.

Deuteronomy 5:20 – "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." In Sen. McCain’s campaign speeches, he assassinated his opponent’s character by falsely accusing him of being a socialist, a Muslim, and a Muslim friend of terrorists. Sen. Obama never slandered Sen. McCain character. What he said about Sen. McCain was that to elect him would be keeping President Bush in office.

Galatians 5:22-23 – "But the fruit of the Spirit is……..self-control……"
Sen. McCain’s own party described him as a hot-head; cursing and storming out of meetings when his views weren’t taken. Throughout the campaign, Sen. Obama’s character was that of self-restraint.

James 1:8 – "…..a double minded man, unstable in all his ways."
At the onset of the Economic Crisis, and throughout the campaign, Sen. McCain changed his position on how he would run the country several times; whereas Sen. Obama remained steadfast and focused. He never allowed himself to be tossed back and forth.

1 John 4:20 – "If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
The only time I hear Republicans speak against abortions is during presidential elections. Once they’re in office they do nothing to change our law concerning abortions. This makes me think that the topic of abortion is only a ploy to gain evangelicals’ votes. According to scripture, it’s impossible to love someone you can’t see, if you don’t have love for those you do see!
Beginning with President Reagan’s administration, I’ve notice that when Republicans are in office, all types of tax credits are granted to large businesses and corporations. After these companies receive their tax benefits, they pack up and move their companies overseas putting thousands of Americans out work. Despite their tales of why they do this, it all boils down to GREED. Where is the love for the American people that allow and support a company’s right to do this? Where is the love for individuals who can’t retire because the government allowed businesses to seize employees’ pensions for themselves after they bankrupt their companies? Where is the love for the working poor when government removes restraints (that would protect consumers) from greedy lenders that allow them to exploit the poor into thinking they can afford a house that the lender knows they can’t? Does the lender care? No, because he has already worked out a scheme to get the government to pay for the defaulted loans. Where is the LOVE?

In his choice of a VP, Sen. McCain chose someone who was weak in all the areas he is weak in. Sen. Obama chose a VP who is strong in areas he is weak in.

Sen. McCain’s campaign catered to evangelical leaders and the wealthy. Sen. Obama’s campaign catered to all Americans regardless of religion, gender, race, economic status or political party.

When Sen. Obama gave his acceptance speech it brought tears to my eyes. Not because he was elected as our country’s first African American president, but because his speech of unity should have been a message that our prominent evangelical leaders, and a particular Christian Radio Station (in Chicago) should have spread throughout our nation instead of the divisive and fearful propaganda they made against Sen. Obama.

I thank God, that in this election, the majority of Christian Americans from every culture in our nation chose to vote their own conscience instead of blindly following orders from the Pharisaic elite.

I pray God’s direction and protection over President Elect Obama, his family and the administration that will lead our country for the next four years. I pray he will never take lightly his responsibility as Commander in Chief. I also pray that he will walk in integrity and wisdom, with a heart that remains open to God’s prompting.

CHILD LIKE FAITH

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3

As we mature in age, and become indoctrinated in modern technology and its amazing powers, especially in the medical field------we lose our practical, child-like faith in the omnipotence of God. In our heads we know God is omnipotent, omniscience and sovereign. But experientially, we don’t know Him as such because we do not exercise our faith in these areas.

In our prayers for the terminally ill where there is no known cure, we ask God to please give the doctors the knowledge to make the person well. How come we won’t ask God, who created the human body to heal the individual? Why do we confine God to working through doctors and medical research only?

We read scriptures that we say we believe, where handkerchiefs and aprons were taken from Paul’s body and placed on the sick and they were healed. But, when challenged to do that today we say, “God doesn’t work like that anymore, that was for then not now.”

Four years ago, following the birth of her baby, my youngest daughter called to tell me she and the baby were coming to visit----she said she wanted to cook dinner for me. While she was in the kitchen preparing the meal I held my infant grandchild in my arms, walking and singing spiritual songs to her. My daughter sat down next to where I stood and touched the hem of my dress. A week later she called me. “Mom, remember when I touched the hem of your dress?” “Yes.” “Well, the doctor told me I had cancer and needed to think about having my uterus removed. I remembered the woman in the Bible who touched the hem of Jesus’ robe and she was healed (Luke 8:43-48). I know you are a woman of God, so I asked God if He would heal me if I touched the hem of your dress. I just came back from the doctor, the cancer is gone!”

I believe the reason we don’t experience God’s miracles in our presence today is because many of us don’t believe He can, or want to grant miracles as He did in the Bible.

In 1974 my family of three was in a personal famine after my husband was laid off his job. All we had in the house was a half a bag of pinto beans. Believing the scriptures that tell of God multiplying meal and oil for a widow, her son and the Prophet Elijah during a famine (1 Kings 17:11-16); I asked God to multiply my pinto beans. For a week, my husband, daughter and I ate pinto beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pot never ran out of beans. Our famine ended on the seventh day.

At another time I prayed, asking God to multiply the gas in our car so we could pick up a family member who was in trouble and make it back to our house. We didn’t have any money to buy gas, nor did the relative we were helping. Remembering the woman, whose sons were about to be sold into slavery to pay a debt left by her deceased husband, and how God multiplied her small pot of oil to many pots of oil to sell, to get out of debt (2 Kings 4:1-7)--------------I asked God to multiply the gasoline in our car. He did.

Have you ever wondered about the two fish and five barley loaves the Lord multiplied to feed the five thousands (John 6:5-12)? It’s true. When unexpected guests stopped by my house to visit while I was preparing dinner (fried catfish) for my family, God multiplied the fish making enough to go around for everyone to be filled.

Child-like Faith in God believes God can do everything He says in His Word He can do. Child-like Faith in God enables us to practice what we read in scripture when our circumstances mirror what we’ve read.

My own healing from breast cancer was a result of my child-like faith in God. Well intentioned friends who had lost relatives to breast cancer tried their best to prepare me for certain death, especially after the chemotherapy didn’t work. But I held on to my child-like faith in God and His Word (John 9:3, 32) and He brought me through. The Lord worked through the surgeon to remove the cancer, but He healed the damage chemo did to my heart solo of the doctor’s hands.